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ELECTRIC GAS GENERATOR.

No. 291,463. Patented Jan. 1, 1884.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BALL, OF PHILADELPHIA, AND CHARLES S. BRADFORD, JR, OF WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO SAID BALL.

ELECTRIC GAS-GENERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,463, dated January 1, 1884;

Application filed February .14, 1883. Renewed November 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. BALL,.L citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, and CHARLES S. BRAD- FORD, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at West Chester, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrio Gas-Generators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, representing our invention partly in side elevation and partly in section.

Letters Patent of the United States dated February 13, 1883, No. 272,187, for electric gas-generators, exhibit an apparatus and describe a process whereby gas is produced from hydrocarbon and similar liquids by the action of the voltaic arc. The gas so produced from hydrocarbon liquids is a pure and heavy hydrocarbon, which, for certain purposes, is too rich in carbon to give a bright, clear light or flame, and requires to be diluted or mixed with other gas to reduce the proportion of carbon in order to produce the best illuminating effects.

Our invention has for its object to provide means for the production and mixing of hydrogen with the gas produced by the said patented process; and our improvements consist in the process and apparatus hereinafter described, whereby hydrogen is obtained by the decomposition of steam or water by the action of the electric arc, and combined with hydrocarbon gas produced by the means and in the manner set forth in the aforesaid patent.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A represents the generating-chamber, B B the carbon electrodes, 0 the supply-pipe, D the exit-pipe, E the gasometer, F the stand-pipe,

5 G the gas engine or motor, and H the dynamoelectric engine, constituting the plant, substantially as shown in the above-mentioned patent, for producing and storing hydrocarbon gas.

5 I represents another chamber, provided with carbon electrodes K K, and means, illustrated by magnet is, for moving one of said electrodes toward the other, so as toproduce and sustain an electric arc in the chamber I.

L is. a stand-pipe for holding water, for which a pump may be substituted, said pump being worked, if desired, by means of the engine G. From the pipe L (or from the sub stitute pump) a branch pipe, M, leads into chamber I.

. N shows another branch pipe leading into pipe L, by which steam (either exhaust, live, or superheated) may be supplied in place of water.

0 represents an exit-pipe from the chamber I, leading to and connecting with the exit-pipe D, or it may, if desired, lead into the gasometer E. The electrodes and appurtenant parts in chambers A and I'are provided with connectingwires or conductors a t, by which they are .brought into the circuit of the dynamoelectric machine H, so that when electric currents are generated by the latter voltaic arcs will be produced and maintained in both said chambers. The chamber A being supplied with oil or hydrocarbon liquid, the production of hydrocarbon gas in said chamber proceeds as set forth in the aforesaid patent. Steam or water being admitted to chamber I, and coming in contact therein with the electric arc, is decomposed, the oxygen attacking and combining with the carbon electrodes, while the freed hydrogen passes off by pipe 0 and is mingled with the hydrocarbon gas from cham her A.

Suitable valves are provided in pipes L, N, and O, for regulating the supply of water or steam and hydrogen, so as to regulate the quantity of the latter and permit the proportions of the same to the hydrocarbon gas to be varied according to the exigencies of the case, or to the use intended to be made of the latter, or the degree of illuminating or other property desired.

What we claim as our invention is- 1. The combination, with an apparatus or plant for electrically generating hydrocarbon gas, of means, substantially as described, for generating hydrogen gas for mixing or combining therewith, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of chambers A I, elec- In testimony whereof we affix oursignatures trodes BB, K K, supply-pipes F M, motor in presence of two witnesses. G, and electric generator H, substantially as- CHAS. E. BALL, shown and described. CHAS. S. BRADFORD, JR. 5 3. The process herein described of obtain- Witnesses to signature of C. E. Ball:

ing mixed or combined hydrocarbon gas and- W. L. OANDEE, hydrogen, consisting in generating hydrocar- ROBT. J. CUMMINGS, Jr. bon gas in an electrical generator, and hydro- Witnesses to signature of C. S. Bradford,Jr. gen gas in another electrical generator, and M. D. CONNOLLY, 1o mingling said gases, substantially as set forth. THos. A. CONNO'LLY. 

